Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 discussion

I have to be honest with myself so I will start small and see how it goes but 12 books off the pile would be terrific.

I plan to just update this post as I go instead of making a list so I can go with whatever strikes my fancy.

That's it - post as you go along then it won't seem like a chore.

:O)

That's probably a good idea. I feel sure that I'm going to have some D-N-F'ers on my list and will have to replace.

Good luck!

First one done. It's hasn't been on Mt TBR for too long but still..

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel. Very good.

Now reading Pearl of China

Yay!

You're up early.

Hmmmmmm. I wasn't up that early. Come to think of it I think I posted that the night before. Goodreads has been a bit off for the last few days. I've been getting the "Quote of the Day" email for the wrong day, or twice. Maybe they couldn't adjust to the time change here in the US.

It's true I'm a morning person but......

It was about noon here, so 6:00 AM for you... which I thought was a little early, even for you! But GR has been squirrely lately.

Book number 2 - Death of an Englishman by Magdalene Nabb.

Really enjoyed this one and now my husband is reading it too.

I always enjoy it when my husband picks up a book after I read it.

That one looks good, Donna. I've got next year's list full already!

Hi Hayes. Working on another one while sitting here in the Montreal airport, Devil-Devil, really feel like I should be reading something by Louise Penny though, especially on the train yesterday.

Oh, I will have to look into Death of an Englishman - it sounds familiar!

As I have no husband, I must rely on you guys to help me find new books! Don't let me down guys! :D

Well, in this case, we are passing books along to the husband, so you can pass them along, too. But, don't worry, everyone on this challenge is reading great books, and you'll be adding more that plenty!

I look forward to, and dread, my to-read list getting longer and longer!

I'm fighting to stay around 900 on my tbr list, and I know many people with much higher numbers! You're just starting out.

I am just a guppy in the wide, wonderful ocean of books.

That and I am bad at marking what I am reading, and what I want to read in most cases!

It's really hard not to add books to the tbr list. Now, I tend to wait for at least a friend's recommendation and/or review.

Oh, and maybe we should go chat on your list thread! Thanks, Donna! :)

Finished Pearl of China - book number 3.

Read this with my in person book group and the discussion was very good.

Have you posted a review? I'd love to read it.

Me too. I'm so envious of Donna's FTF book group. They read the most wonderful things!

I'll add my hat into the ring of wanting to know what you thought of Pearl of China. I've liked other books by Anchee Min and quickly added this to my list when it came out. I thought I bought it at the Borders closing, along with that Austen book we were going to read last year, Jeannette. Hmmm - Do lost books go to the same place as lost socks and lost glasses?

Hayes wrote: "Me too. I'm so envious of Donna's FTF book group. They read the most wonderful things!"

FTF group? I wonder which group is this one....

face-to-face (it must be one she meets with locally).

Yes, I am incredibly lucky to have a Barnes and Noble nearby that sponsors book groups. I sit in on 3 different groups, 2 mystery related and 1 historical fiction related.

Our local library system sponsors groups too but only during the day - what about those of us who work!!!! - still, it is a terrific library system so I won't complain.

Jeannette wrote: "face-to-face (it must be one she meets with locally)."


oh dear, to many acronyms to remember to my poor memory. Thanks Jeannette.

That one took me a couple of minutes when i saw it, too. :)

Donna is very lucky to have 3 groups that she enjoys so much!

On to book 4 on my list - this is so inspiring - In the Last Analysis by Amanda Cross. I've heard her name mentioned and I've had this on my bookshelf for ages. So far so good. It was written as a contempory mystery, first in a series, but since that was in the 60s it is almost historical now. We'll see how it holds up.

PS - I'm working on my review of Pearl of China.

I have read one Amanda Cross, much later in the series, #10 I think. It was okay, but I didn't like the topic very much, women's liberation and misogynistic male professors at university. I hope the first one is fine.

Finished In the Last Analysis.I did enjoy it even if it was dated and slightly improbable but then most mysteries with amateur sleuths have a bit of the improbable in them.

Not sure what will be next for the challenge, I have a few books for my in person groups and I've been listening to books I download from the library but I'm sure I'lll find something good.

No pressure on the review for Pearl of China, I've got several I still need to get done myself. Some reviews are just difficult to get all your thoughts together or just don't want to come together clearly.

Book 5 started this afternoon, Among the Mad. Love the Maisie Dobbs series and so far this one is as good as all the other.

I've enjoyed the ones I've read so far too, except Maisie can get a little too preachy, opinionated at times. But learning how the Great War continued to affect England and that the unseen injuries are the most difficult and the ones it wasn't proper to be discussed.

Finished Among the Mad and really did enjoy it. Dawn, I agree that there is a touch of preachiness in this one but still an interesting look at a tough subject that is unfortunately still timely today.

Yes, it is the subject and how it is generally handled that keeps me going back to the Maisie Dobbs series.

Book 6 started tonight. A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley. Part of my arm chair travels as this one is set in Botswana.

Started Book 7 The Partly Cloudy Patriot. Found this on the bookcase in my daughter's room. Sarah Vowell is frequently a guest on NPR. I try to read some non-fiction from time to time. I'm enjoying her take on American History - and it is almost July 4th.

In honor of our continuing hot, dry summer I've started Snow Blind by P. J. Tracy. (Book 8) Winter in Minnesota - just what you need to read about in July.

But not in January... ;)

On to book number 9 The Good Thief's Guide to Paris. I read Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam a few years ago and enjoyed it so I thought I'd see what he does with Paris.

Finished up The Good Thief's Guide to Paris It was good but maybe not quite as good as the first in the series. The beginning was a little confusing but wrapped up nicely.

Returned to and finished The Boy in the Suitcase. I'm going to count this as book 9.5 since it has been sitting around half read for awhile. Very good finish - did not see it coming.

Finished The Good Thief's Guide to Paris. Not quite as good as the first in the series, the beginning was a bit scattered but finished up nicely.

Returned to and finished The Boy in the Suitcase. I'll call this book 9.5 since it has been sitting around half read for awhile. Interesting book with an ending I can really say I never saw coming.

On to The Keeper of Lost Causes, book 10, for my in person book group.

Finished The Keeper of Lost Causes and it was a real page turner. I'm looking forward to more adventures with Carl and Assad.

On my recent trip I started 2 books - number 11 and 12 - Mortal Causes and Murder With Peacocks.

When I finish these I will have reached my goal!

Almost there!

I've got "peacocks" on my list for next year. Looking forward to it, and to your review.

Nice! I just finished my list, now on to write the reviews.

Finished Murder With Peacocks and it was OK but it was way over the top with eccentric characters and light on plot. There were a few good lines that made me chuckle but I doubt I'll read more in the series.

Oh, that's too bad... I've got it here, so I will give it a try anyway. The series looked so promising.

Hi Hayes, I'll be interested in what you think. Maybe I was just not in the mood for it. Lots of people I know really enjoy Donna Andrews books. I feel like a traitor - she lives here in Reston!

Shhh... I won't tell! Don't know when I'll get to it, but I'll keep you posted.